The Scientific Basis of Tobacco Product Regulation - World Health ...

• People who continue to use smokeless tobacco products the characteristics
of which are changed to those with a risk that is scientifically documented
as being at the low end of the range are likely to benefit.
• Harm reduction strategies that involve encouraging smokeless tobacco use
in regions where smokeless tobacco is the predominant type of tobacco
used may cause harm, particularly when the product used predominantly
has substantial hazardous properties.
• The design and characteristics of smokeless tobacco products affect their
appeal by changing the taste, flavour and ease of use, the amount of nicotine
delivered, its addictiveness, and therefore the potential for harm.
• Contents of smokeless tobacco products other than tobacco affect the appeal
of the product by changing the taste, flavour and ease of use, the
amount of nicotine delivered and its addictiveness, and therefore the potential
for harm.
• Packaging, labelling and marketing of smokeless tobacco products affect
their appeal, the prevalence of their use, initiation, addiction and therefore
the potential for harm.
• Conflicting conclusions have been reached about whether initiation of tobacco
use with smokeless tobacco products results in a higher prevalence
of subsequent use of combustible tobacco products.
• The evidence that smokeless tobacco products are effective for smoking
cessation does not meet the standards required, although the results of surveys
suggest that some cigarette smokers have given up smoking by
changing to smokeless tobacco.
• Evidence that adult use of smokeless tobacco increases cessation of
cigarette smoking at the population level remains inconclusive and varies
by country.
• Some smokeless tobacco products are marketed for use by cigarette smokers
in situations where smoking is not allowed; the effect of such use on
cessation is not known.
• The effects of concurrent use of combustible and smokeless tobacco products
on exposure to toxicant are not known.
• In countries where smokeless tobacco use is common, the prevalence is
highest among adolescents and young men.
• The pattern of smokeless tobacco use by adult populations varies by country,
with substantial adult use in some countries and use largely confined
to young men in others; the roles of marketing and social differences remain
uncertain.
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